Agenda 02/28/2017 Item #16F 402/28/2017
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Recommendation to approve an agreement between Collier County and RETIS, the French
Business Accelerator organization sponsor, designating Collier County exclusive rights to host the
March 9-10, 2017 RETIS FACE 11 Executive Training Program and authorize funding to help
offset participant travel and lodging cost associated with the event in an amount not to exceed
$8,000 and provide for the County’s annual membership in the RETIS organization in an amount
not to exceed $5,300.
OBJECTIVE: Approval by the Board of County Commissioners (Board) of an agreement between the
County and RETIS, the French network for innovation, to provide Collier County exclusive rights to host
the RETIS FACE 11 Executive Training Program from March 9-10, 2017. The agreement with RETIS
for the March 9-10, 2017 FACE 11 Executive Training Program stipulates that RETIS will hold the event
in Collier County, Florida, and provides funding to reimburse travel and lodging costs associated with
attending the event for up to five (5) French innovation companies and three (3) RETIS event operations
staff, at up to $1,000 per approved company and operations staff person in an amount of up to $8,000 and
provides for the County’s annual membership in the RETIS organization in an amount of up to $5,300.
CONSIDERATIONS: Provence Alpes Côte d'Azur (“PACA"), is the name of a geo-political
region/area in France, which is a local government that can be compared to a large county in the U.S. with
elected officials and funded through public money. The “Agence Régionale pour l'Innovation et
l'internationalisation des enterprises (“ARII”) is the Regional Agency for Innovation and
Internationalization of companies. PACA and ARII are local/regional administrations and organizations
with institutional missions and the responsibility for innovation and international regional public policies
and have the capability to finance strategic programs matching the regional goals and objectives.
RETIS is a national (France) private and non-profit organization dedicated to promote French incubators/
accelerators and their startups with programs like FACE. RETIS is a membership organization and has
numerous members from the PACA Region. RETIS is a partner of the PACA Region and ARII and
conducts programs like the FACE 11 program for companies from the PACA Region.
Collier County has participated in 3 successful FACE programs from visiting French companies. FACE
5, FACE 9, and FACE 10. The FACE program is a 2-3 day event which introduces French companies to
doing business in Collier County. It is educational with a strong emphasis on networking and
opportunities for local and French business collaboration.
Collier County in conjunction with other community organizations (including the Greate r Naples
Chamber of Commerce) began communicating with representatives from the PACA Innovation
organization of France during an initial visit in February 2013, regarding potential international economic
development collaboration with Collier County. In two subsequent visits to Collier County the
PACA/RETIS group continued discussions of establishing an international partnership with Collier
County. The essential points of the partnership would: 1) create a soft landing zone providing technical
assistance for selected French companies willing to develop businesses in Collier County and Florida,
while 2) providing Collier and Florida innovation companies with facilitated access to French and
European business partnerships and international trade, and institutional cooperation with the idea of
having PACA/RETIS representation office in Collier County. As provided for in the Office of Business
and Economic Development’s Business Plan, and formally adopted by the Board on September 12, 2013,
this partnership would advance a key economic development goal of international trade with potential for
foreign-direct investment.
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On January 19, 2017, representatives from RETIS submitted an action plan outlining a proposal for
Collier County to host the Face 11 Executive Training Program. The Face 11 Executive Training Program
equates to an in-bound international trade mission affording our community an opportunity to recruit
those desirable international firms to locate in Collier County. The plan outlines the benefits and
obligations of both RETIS and Collier County, including a request for Collier County to provide financial
support of up to $8,000 to offset transportation and lodging costs for up to 5 French innovation companies
and up to 3 RETIS operations staff as part of Collier’s facilitation of their participation in the RETIS Face
11 Executive Training Program planned for the March 9-10 event. Also, by joining RETIS and paying
annual membership fees, we can host a new Southwest Florida/Collier County delegation to France that
would allow much more national visibility and deepen the relationship with RETIS and the French nation
as a whole. The partnership with RETIS will further facilitate the County’s economic development by
increasing international trade and increasing additional business opportunities that will create high value
jobs for County residents and businesses. The opportunity to host the next Face 11 Executive Training
Session will contribute to Collier County’s position as a hub for French and European companies aiming
to expand in Florida, while assisting Florida-based innovation companies in gaining access to French and
European business or technology incentives or other partnerships.
The Office of Business and Economic Development has worked to create a mutually beneficial agreement
with RETIS that will allow Collier County to exclusively host the March 9-10, 2017 RETIS FACE 11
Executive Training Program. The Office will continue relationship building with RETIS and pursue
garnering local partner and community support to facilitate a successful event in the fall.
FISCAL IMPACT: The maximum cost to the County for this in-bound international trade mission is a)
$8,000 to offset transportation and lodging costs up to $1,000 each, for up to 5 French i nnovation
companies and 3 RETIS staff persons visiting Collier County for the March 9 -10, 2017 FACE 11
program; and b) up to $5,300 for annual RETIS membership. Sufficient funds are available in the
Economic Development budget (001-138790) for the proposed programs.
GROWTH MANAGEMENT IMPACT: This request is consistent with Objective 3 of the Economic
Element of the Collier County Growth Management Plan, which states: “Collier County will support
programs that are designed to promote and encourage the recruitment of new industry, as well as the
expansion and retention of existing industries in order to diversify the County’s economic base.”
LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS: This item is approved for form and legality and requires a majority
vote for Board approval. -JAB
RECOMMENDATION: To approve an agreement between Collier County and RETIS designating
Collier County exclusive rights to host the March 9-10, 2017 RETIS FACE 11 Executive Training
Program and provide financial support for the event in an amount of up to $8,000 and provide for the
County’s annual membership in the RETIS organization in an amount of up to $5,300.
Prepared by: Jace Kentner, Director, Office of Business and Economic Development
ATTACHMENT(S)
1. CAO Stamped 2017 RETIS Agreement (PDF)
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COLLIER COUNTY
Board of County Commissioners
Item Number: 16.F.4
Doc ID: 2776
Item Summary: Recommendation to approve an agreement between Collier County and RETIS,
the French Business Accelerator organization sponsor, designating Collier County exclusive rights to host
the March 9-10, 2017 RETIS FACE 11 Executive Training Program and authorize funding to help offset
participant travel and lodging cost associated with the event in an amount not to exceed $8,000 and
provide for the County’s annual membership in the RETIS organization in an amount not to exceed
$5,300..
Meeting Date: 02/28/2017
Prepared by:
Title: Operations Analyst, Senior – Administrative Services Department
Name: Bendisa Marku
02/17/2017 5:16 PM
Submitted by:
Title: Economic Research Analyst – Business and Economic Development
Name: Jace Kentner
02/17/2017 5:16 PM
Approved By:
Review:
Business and Economic Development Jace Kentner Additional Reviewer Completed 02/17/2017 5:21 PM
County Attorney's Office Jennifer Belpedio Level 2 Attorney of Record Review Completed 02/21/2017 4:50 PM
Office of Management and Budget Valerie Fleming Level 3 OMB Gatekeeper Review Completed 02/21/2017 4:56 PM
Budget and Management Office Ed Finn Additional Reviewer Completed 02/21/2017 4:58 PM
County Attorney's Office Jeffrey A. Klatzkow Level 3 County Attorney's Office Review Completed 02/22/2017 8:13 AM
County Manager's Office Leo E. Ochs Level 4 County Manager Review Completed 02/22/2017 3:36 PM
Board of County Commissioners MaryJo Brock Meeting Pending 02/28/2017 9:00 AM
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Packet Pg. 1289 Attachment: CAO Stamped 2017 RETIS Agreement (2776 : agreement between Collier County and RETIS)
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Packet Pg. 1290 Attachment: CAO Stamped 2017 RETIS Agreement (2776 : agreement between Collier County and RETIS)
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Packet Pg. 1292 Attachment: CAO Stamped 2017 RETIS Agreement (2776 : agreement between Collier County and RETIS)
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Packet Pg. 1294 Attachment: CAO Stamped 2017 RETIS Agreement (2776 : agreement between Collier County and RETIS)
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Packet Pg. 1295 Attachment: CAO Stamped 2017 RETIS Agreement (2776 : agreement between Collier County and RETIS)
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Packet Pg. 1296 Attachment: CAO Stamped 2017 RETIS Agreement (2776 : agreement between Collier County and RETIS)
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Packet Pg. 1297 Attachment: CAO Stamped 2017 RETIS Agreement (2776 : agreement between Collier County and RETIS)
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Packet Pg. 1298 Attachment: CAO Stamped 2017 RETIS Agreement (2776 : agreement between Collier County and RETIS)
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Packet Pg. 1299 Attachment: CAO Stamped 2017 RETIS Agreement (2776 : agreement between Collier County and RETIS)